Ma Long's Forehand Serve vs Wang Hao's Reverse Pendulum Serve: A Technical Deep Dive
Ma Long favors the forehand serve, while Wang Hao prefers the reverse pendulum serve. 
This is a new, technique-focused column presented in a Q&A format. The experts providing insights are two former national team players (both now senior coaches) who wish to remain anonymous. They value peace and rest over fame. We believe sharing these technical insights is valuable and serves as a supplement to their existing content. Thus, the ‘Peak Mastery’ column was born. 
For beginners, what makes a good introductory coach?
A good coach should not rush children to achieve results or exert force too early. Initially, the focus should be on:
- Stable footwork
- Using body weight to find the ball
- Body movement leading hand movement
- Avoiding excessive force
- Learning weight transfer
- Leaning forward
Once these six points are mastered, attention can shift to arm movements. If a coach emphasizes these aspects, the child will likely develop strong fundamentals. If a child is taught to exert force from the start, they will struggle to progress. Mastering the above points ensures the body remains stable, with both vertical and horizontal axes steady, which is crucial for consistent ball contact and continuous speed.
Wang Hao frequently uses the reverse pendulum serve, while Ma Long prefers the forehand serve. ‘Xiao Pang’ (Fan Zhendong) also used to rely on forehand serves but has since incorporated reverse spin. How do these choices relate to their technical styles?
The reverse pendulum and reverse spin serves are more conducive to backhand techniques, often used by players like Wang Hao and Zhang Jike. Forehand serves, on the other hand, favor forehand play, as seen with Ma Long. For example, when serving a forehand side-spin, if the opponent pushes the ball back and the control is off, the ball may go off the table or into the net. To ensure the ball lands, the opponent will likely push it to the middle or forehand side, making it easier for the server to loop with their forehand. This is why it favors forehand play.
If the opponent returns the serve with a loop, the spin will also favor the forehand side, allowing the server to use the incoming spin to generate a stronger loop.
In today’s fast-paced games, is it impossible to switch between forehand and backhand while maintaining heavy loops like Grigory Danilovich ‘Grinka’ did? Most players now have one strong side and one weaker side. For instance, players with a very spinny backhand often have a less spinny forehand, and vice versa. 
Even at the near-mid table, this holds true, and it’s not just about loops but also drives. Look at Ma Long and ‘Xiao Pang’ (Fan Zhendong) for example. Players like Lin Gaoyuan, known for their speed, rely mainly on borrowed force, fast pulls, and fast flicks.